Best over-ear headphones 2021: the best-sounding headphones you can buy

Date:
Thu, 24 Jun 2021 13:01:09 +0000

Description:
Looking for the best over-ear headphones? These are the cans you need.

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Buying yourself a pair of the best over-ear headphones is still hands-down
the best way to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts if you value sound quality, comfort, and an impressive soundstage above all else. Which headphones style is best for you?

Check out TechRadar's exhaustive guides to the best headphones you can buy today:

- Best on-ear headphones

- Best over-ear headphones .

- Best earbuds

- Best wireless headphones

- Best true wireless earbuds

- Best wireless earbuds

- Best budget wireless earbuds

- Best noise-cancelling headphones

- Best swimming headphones

- Best running headphones

- Best workout headphones

- Best Apple headphones

- Best Sony headphones

- Best Bose headphones

- Best Beats headphones

Sure, the best earbuds on the market might be ultra convenient and their
audio quality is (for the most part) great too. However, if you take
listening to music seriously or get easily distracted by ambient sounds there are clear benefits to a more substantial pair of headphones that cover your whole ears and block out all external distractions that could interrupt your focus.

Perhaps even more importantly, over-ear headphones could also be a much
better option for your hearing health than in-ear headphones . That's because they put a bit more distance between loud sounds and your eardrums, and by blocking out a lot of ambient noise (or all ambient noise if they have ANC), you often dont need to have the volume turned up quite so high. If safeguarding your hearing is important to you (and it should be for all of us), thats another reason to look for a pair of over-ears.

When it comes to audio performance, its hard to beat the best over-ear headphones too. The reason for that is because the best over-ear headphones you can buy right now have large, powerful drivers and come in both open-back and closed-back variations. The former offers an almost concert hall-like
feel to your favorite music thats as close as youll get to watching it live.

Just because over-ears win in terms of performance doesnt mean theyre not stylish, too. While they tend to be much bigger than other models, there are slick wireless options to choose from too, such as the Philips PH805 , the Sony WH-1000XM4 , the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 , and the Sennheiser PXC 550-II . However, old-school cool is still very much in too. Take a look at the brilliant Audeze LCD-1 and Cleer Next for proof that wired headphones are still among the best you can buy for both sound quality and looks these days.

Below weve selected a number of over-ear headphones for our guide, which includes wired models as well as wireless headphones for those that don't
want to cut the cord. Looking for something more specific? Make sure you
check out our dedicated guides to the best noise-cancelling headphones and
the best wireless headphones , too. Our top picks (Image credit:
Beyerdynamic) 1. Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro

Professional headphones that know how to have fun Acoustic design: Open | Weight: 370g | Frequency response: 5-40,000Hz | Drivers: 45mm dynamic Tesla neodymium | Battery life: N/A Sturdy and comfortable Breathtaking resolution Slightly recessed mids Highs can be fatiguing

While Beyerdynamic may not be as well known as its German brother,
Sennheiser, the audio company has a history of creating some of the best-sounding audio gear on the market the companys DT770 , DT880 and DT990 over-ear headphones were renowned for their excellent build and sound
quality.

Above them all, however, stands the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, an open-back version of the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro , a headphone which won our Editors Choice for its imaging, design and value for the money. Both headphones are priced the same ($599, 589, AU$1,159), so you wont find a deal picking up one over the other. The difference here comes down to sound.

As theyre open-back, the DT 1990 Pro are meant to be used at home or in the studio for serious analytical listening. Sound is able to get in and out but the good news is that the open-back design gives you the DT 1990 Pro a great sense of space. Soundstage is quite wide, too, allowing even the most lackadaisical listener to pinpoint the exact location of where each
instrument is playing.

The DT 1990 Pro are the best over-ear headphones, in our opinion, but be sure to check out our review of the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro too for a closed-back version that's a little more socially friendly.

Read more: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro review (Image credit: Sony) 2. Sony WH-1000XM4

The best all-rounders Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 253g | Frequency response: 4Hz to 40kHz | Drivers: 1.57-inch dome type | Battery life: 30
hours Improved noise-cancellation DSEE Extreme audio upscaling Multipoint pairing Not water-resistant

It's almost unfair to stick them in the same category as the more critical listening-focused over-ear headphones, but the Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best all-around headphones we've heard since, well, the Sony WH-1000XM3.

Not only do they sound great and pack excellent noise cancellation, but they manage to do this all wirelessly.

Other over-ear headphones on our list offer superior sound quality, sure, but the WH-1000XM4 manage to offer the best balance of features and performance.

While they don't look significantly different from their predecessors, a number of new features including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor all help the WH-1000XM4 claim the title of best headphones in 2021.

Offering all of this without a serious price-premium over the competition means the Sony WH-1000XM4 are a great all-around choice for on-the-go music listeners.

Read more: Sony WH-1000XM4 review The best Sony headphones of 2021 3. Sennheiser HD 800

The Sennheiser HD800 are beautifully balanced headphones Acoustic design:
Open | Weight: 330g | Frequency response: 14 44,100 Hz | Drivers: N/A | Battery life: N/A Sounds simply superb in every way Beautifully balanced Incredibly detailed Undeniably expensive

The fourth entry on our list of the best over-ear headphones could hav easily been the first if they didn't cost well over $1,000 / 1,000. The Sennheiser
HD 800 are, hands down, some of the best-sounding pairs of over-ear
headphones on the planet, affectionately praised by inner circles of audiophiles the world over. When paired with the proper hardware, they sound absolutely excellent balanced in every way.

Unfortunately, they're supremely expensive and require more audio equipment than the average consumer is ready to buy. Should you find yourself in need or, let's be honest, in want of amazing over-ear headphones, these are them.

Read more: Sennheiser HD 800 review (Image credit: Audeze) 4. Audeze LCD-1

Affordable audiophile headphones Acoustic design: Open | Weight: 250g | Frequency response: 10 50,000 Hz | Drivers: 90mm planar | Battery life: N/A Direct, detailed sound Super comfortable Well-made build Sound leakage

With the LCD-1 open-back headphones, Audeze has brought its uncompromising technology down to a real-world(ish) price. As long as you are prepared to do your listening in splendid isolation that design will generate some sound leakage theres just no reason to overlook these over-ear headphones.

The LCD-1s overall presentation, no matter the material youre listening to
nor the volume at which youre listening, is composed, engaging and entirely believable. Listen to music youve never heard before and youll never doubt youre being given the full picture.

Listen to music youve heard a thousand times before and theres every chance the LCD-1's will find some nuance in there youve never really heard before.

Read more: Audeze LCD-1 review (Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins) 5. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless Headphones

Strong all-rounders Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 310g | Frequency response: 10 30,000 Hz | Drivers: 43.6mm full range | Battery life: 30 hours Best-in-class sound quality Competitive battery life Robust Bluetooth connection Earcups don't collapse

If youre looking for class-leading wireless, noise-cancelling headphones and you're not put off by the $399 / 349 / AU$600 price tag, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 are well worth considering.

With sophisticated noise-canceling, much-improved sound quality, a honed aesthetic, the PX7 could give any of the over-ear headphones on this list a run for their money.

Plus. they're packing aptX Adaptive for improved stability and latency
between the headphones and your device, as well as high-quality (24-bit) streaming aptX HD brought to the table.

Read more: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless Headphones review (Image credit: TechRadar) 6. Sennheiser HD 560S

These analytical Sennheisers deliver the complete picture Acoustic design: Open | Weight: 240g | Frequency response: 6 38,000Hz | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: N/A Astute, revealing sound Light and comfortable Simple to use Not the most entertaining (or tolerant) listen

The Sennheiser HD 560S are to be used as a tool, in the most literal sense.
If you want to be able to look deep into the details of a mix, or to make A/B comparisons with absolute certainty, these are exactly the sort of headphones you need. If you want to be entertained, energized and invigorated by your music, though, theyre less than ideal.

Sonically, the Sennheiser HD560S are a ruthlessly revealing listen. Sure enough, the soundstage they describe is big in all directions, and individual elements of a recording appear on the stage in an absolutely solid area of space. Detail levels whether concerning instrument timbre, vocal technique
or any other aspect of a recording are absolutely sky-high, and the HD560S maintain an even, neutral balance from the very bottom of the frequency range to the very top.

Read more: Sennheiser HD 560S review (Image credit: Philips) 7. Philips
PH805

Premium wireless headphones without the premium price Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 7 40,000Hz | Drivers: 40mm dynamic | Battery life: 30 hours Well made Good battery life Punchy, controlled, and detailed sound Noise cancelation could be more effective

At $199 / 160 (around AU$290) the Philips PH805 offer exceptional value for money. These are wireless over-ear headphones, using Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity so high-resolution audio playback should be achievable.

Using a single Lithium-Ion cell for up to 30 hours of playback time from a single charge, the Philips PH805 have active noise cancellation on board, administered by a couple of mics on each earcup.

Read more: Philips PH805 review (Image credit: Sennheiser) 8. Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019)

Over-ear headphones that don't skimp on the smart features Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 6Hz to 22kHz | Drivers: 42mm | Battery life: 17 hours Brilliant audio quality Cool design Battery life isnt great More expensive than rivals

In terms of audio quality, these Sennheiser over-ear headphones sound fantastic, with high levels of detail, warm bass, and natural-sounding highs.

Customizable noise cancellation is a great touch, but it doesn't quite reach the class-leading standards set by Sony and Bose. Battery life also doesn't compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3s, and they're more expensive to boot.

So, why buy the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019)? Well, if built-in Tile tracking appeals to you, and you like the industrial design and premium materials of the Momentum Wireless, that could be reason enough and if you
do opt for them over the Sony model, you wont be missing out on any audio quality. In that respect, theyre truly matched.

Read the full review: Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019) review (Image credit: Sennheiser) 9. Sennheiser PXC 550-II

A subtler alternative to the Momentum Wireless Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 227g | Frequency response: 17-23,000Hz | Drivers: 32mm dynamic | Battery life: 20 hours Judicious sound Good battery life Subtly premium looks Struggles on trebly recordings

The build, battery life, and sound quality of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II are all very impressive, upgrading the previous PXC 550 model with the latest Bluetooth standard and enhanced audio and smart capabilities.

The PXC 550-II over-ear headphones are a bit cheaper than the Momentum Wireless, a bit more sober in appearance and definitely not as big, with a sophisticated sound.

Read more: Sennheiser PXC 550-II review (Image credit: Beyerdynamic) 10. Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless

Incredible audio fidelity backed by a serious price Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 16-22,000Hz | Drivers: Dynamic | Battery life: 25+ hours Excellent build quality and comfort Detailed and spacious sound Sounds just as good wired Not ideal for travel

The Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless are the best-sounding wireless headphones
you can buy, period. Sound is spacious, detailed, and makes you want to rediscover your music library. Their bulky design and average noise isolation make them terrible for travel but if youre looking for the best sound from a pair of over-ear headphones, this is it.

Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless (Image credit: Bose) 11. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Class-leading noise cancelation, but not the best battery life Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 25g | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: N/A | Battery life: 20 hours Outstanding noise cancelation Fun, lively sound
Elegant design Battery life could be better

They may not beat the Sony WH-1000XM3's battery life and price, the Bose
Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones.

By applying noise cancelation on both music and phone calls, they offer class-leading technology, and well as a vibrant, lively sound and wide, well-balanced soundstage.

If youre trying to decide between buying the Sony WH-1000XM3s and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, wed recommend going for the former because
of that lower price and better battery life.

That being said, you wouldnt be making a mistake if you opted for the Bose cans instead (and we wouldnt blame you if you did) they sound great, look stunning, and the noise-cancelation is out of this world.

Read the full review: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (Image credit: Apple) 12. Apple AirPods Max

The perfect headphones for Apple devotees Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 350g | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: 40mm dynamic | Battery life: 20 hours Unbelievable audio performance Fantastic user experience Brilliant
extra features for iOS Great noise cancellation Very expensive No 3.5mm audio port Limited features for Android Ineffective carrying case

The Apple AirPods Max were the most hotly-anticipated headphones for quite some time, having been the subject of rumor and speculation for two years,
and come with active noise cancellation, superb audio quality, and a design that sets them apart from most noise-cancelling headphones on the market.

While their exceptional audio performance and class-leading ANC impresses, they're let down by their eye-watering price, baffling carrying case, and
lack of support for Hi-Res Audio codecs.

Despite their high price, the AirPods Max arent exactly aimed at the audiophile crowd, owing to their lack of 3.5mm audio port; instead, these
cans are squarely targeted at card-carrying members of the Apple ecosystem, with nifty features for iOS users and an unmistakably Apple design.

For Android users, the AirPods Max are simply a high-performance pair of noise-cancelling headphones with an unusual design, as fantastic as they may sound and for these users, we can't see how the high price is justified.

But, if you've already bought into the Apple ecosystem, you have a lot of money to burn, and you don't care about Hi-Res Audio, you won't find headphones that sound better or are easier to use than the AirPods Max.

Read more: Apple AirPods Max review (Image credit: V-Moda) 13. V-Moda M-200 Studio Headphones

Great sound, built like a tank and very customizable Acoustic design: Closed
| Weight: 290g | Frequency response: 5Hz - 40kHz | Drivers: 50mm | Battery life: N/A Excellent balance Exceptional build and materials Not wireless Clamping force is excessive

The V-Moda M-200 is the apex of what wired headphones can be. Although its 2021 and wireless headphones are much more convenient, there are still those who prefer a corded experience. That includes professionals like music producers, DJs, and video editors. Even some audio enthusiasts and gamers prefer a wired headphone for its reliability.

The design of the M-200 is classic V-Moda: the earcups retain the brands signature hexagonal, angular design and the build quality is excellent with a mix of plastic, aluminum, and sweat-resistant PU leather.

Yes, the M-200 are expensive but theyre worth it for its sound quality, resolution, build quality, and unique customizable plates.

Read more: V-Moda M-200 Studio Headphones review (Image credit: TechRadar) 14. JBL Tune 750BTNC

Quality noise-cancelling headphones for a great price Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 220g | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: 15 - 22 hours Good sound quality Strong active noise cancelation No waterproofing Average battery life

JBL is a popular name in the world ofheadphonesand Bluetooth speakers , and rightly so. Solidly dependable, consumers know what to expect from the brand decent sound quality for a decent price.

That's what we found with the JBL Live 650BTNC last year and now, ready to take their place are the JBL Tune 750BTNC, a superior successor to the 650BTNC's as a high-spec and well-priced set ofover-ear headphones.

The JBL Tune 750BTNC sound great, look great, and they fit well. Reliable and easy to use, you might miss waterproofing and a few minor features but at this price, it feels foolish to complain too readily.

Read more: JBL Tune 750BTNC review (Image credit: Focal) 15. Focal Stellia

Luxury headphones, luxury price Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 435g | Frequency response: 5Hz - 40kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: NA Stunning, precise sound Open soundstage Comfortable Extremely expensive

The Focal Stellias sound absolutely fantastic. Their wide-open soundstage and detailed, accurate sound treatment means they make any genre of music sound brilliant.

If you listen to songs you think you know inside out, the Stellias' precise separation of the frequencies means that you will probably hear details youve never noticed before.

So why didn't they make the list? Well, we included them as a bonus option because they're incredible. But they're very, very expensive.

They're $3,000.And as good as they are, therein lies the problem: the Focal Stellias are prohibitively expensive for most people, at 10 times the price
of our current favorite headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3s .

If you like the sound of these luxury headphones but can't justify the price, check out our initial hands-on review of the new Focal Elegia . They may not sound quite as breathtaking as the Focal Stellia - at least thats what we gathered from a short listening session but the Focal Elegia headphones are still very impressive.

Read the full review: Focal Stellia review (Image credit: Shure) 16. Shure AONIC 50

Shure has finally joined the wireless noise-cancelling party Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 334g | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: 50mm dynamic | Battery life: 20 hours Expansive, convincing sound Sturdy construction Good ANC No touch controls

The Shure AONIC 50 sport a wireless, active noise-cancelling over-ear design, selling at a premium price to compete with the likes of theSony WH-1000XM3andBose NC 700 Headphones.

Ultimately, while you won't find every feature under the sun here, the Shure AONIC 50 are laser-focused on delivering the best sound-quality of almost any noise-cancelling headphone securing them a place among the best over-ear headphones for audiophiles.

Read more: Shure AONIC 50 review (Image credit: Microsoft) 17. Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

Warm sound and great noise cancellation Acoustic design: Closed | Weight:
290g | Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz | Drivers: 40mm free edge | Battery life: 20 hours Warm, wide soundstage Great controls Sound could be more detailed Slightly boring look

The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 are the tech giants second pair ofnoise-cancelling headphones, and they offer a ton of great improvements
over the original Surface Headphones , while retaining some of their best qualities.

In spite of those improvements which includes a longer battery life and a more comfortable design the Surface Headphones 2 are considerably cheaper than their predecessors, making them the obvious choice if youre trying to choose between the two.

That lower price also makes them a great alternative to thebest headphonesof 2021, the Sony WH-1000XM3 , especially as theyve retained the winning design features of the original Surface Headphones, with built-in dials on each earcup to control your music and the active noise cancellation.

Read more: Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 review (Image credit: Urbanista) 18. Urbanista Miami

Budget noise-cancelling headphones with a bassy sound Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz | Drivers: 40mm moving coil | Battery life: 40 hours Cool design Extended bass response Excellent battery life and connectivity Noise cancellation isnt the best Audio could be more detailed

Urbanista's first over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are an easy recommend for those on a budget, who dont want to sacrifice style or sound performance. Noise cancellation itself isnt the best on the market, and while the audio could be more detailed, an extended bass response makes the Urbanista Miami ideal for pop and RnB.

Battery life and connectivity are also decent for the price, making these a great alternative to pricier models like the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Apple AirPods Max.

Read more: Urbanista Miami review What to look for Over-ear headphones: what to look for

To make things easier for audiophiles, this guide focuses on sound quality above all else.

When buying over-ear headphones, sound quality is the most important feature to look out for the more expensive, the better your cans tend to sound, although there are quite a few impressive exceptions to this rule.

How you define good sound quality depends on your personal taste. Do you like a warm, well-rounded sound, or do you prefer ultra high-fidelity that allows you to hear every single detail of your music? Are you a dedicated bass head or a classical music junkie?

If you're all about that bass, you'll want to look out for dynamic drivers that displace lots of air, leading to a bassy soundstage. If detail is everything, look for large frequency ranges 20Hz to 20 kHz is the standard,
so anything larger than this may allow for more detail in the highs and lows.

It's also important to consider the soundstage as a whole; if you love a
wide, open sound, try a pair of open-back headphones. Worried about sound-leakage when you're in the company of others? Try a pair of closed-back cans with a secure fit to stop your tunes bothering the people around you.

As we mentioned, there are a few wireless and noise-canceling headphones in this list that's because the sound quality of these models is exceptional. Many over-ear headphones come with these quality-of-life features these days, although they're often pricier than their wired counterparts if you can't live without these modern conveniences, make sure you're buying headphones with the latest Bluetooth technology and active noise cancelation.

Design is also hugely important, as a good pair of over-ear headphones need
to be comfortable for long listening sessions look out for padded earcups
and headbands in materials like memory foam for ultimate comfort. Best over-ear headphones at a glance: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Sony WH-1000XM4 Sennheiser HD 800 Audeze LCD-1 Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless Headphones Sennheiser HD 560S Philips PH805 Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Sennheiser PX 550-II Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Apple AirPods Max V-Moda M-200 Studio Headphones JBL Tune 750BTNC Focal Stellia Shure AONIC 50 Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 Urbanista Miami Deals



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/best-over-ear-headphones-1 280342/


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